James f



(No Model?) J. F. PLUOHE.

ORUTGH.

No. 384,470. Patented June 12, 1888.

hitter/legit.

N PEIERS. Pholn-Uthngnphar. Walhingiun, mc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. PLUOHE, OF VVATERTOVN, NElV YORK.

CRUTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,470, dated June 12, 1888.

(No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES F. PLUcHE, a citizen of the United States, and a residentof Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented-certain new and useful Improvements in Orutches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved crutch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View through the handle on line mm, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4. is an enlarged cross section through line 3 3 Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention has relation to crutches; and it consists in the construction and combination of parts of the improved crutch, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the top part or saddle of the crutch, which is of such a size and shape that it will fit comfortably under the arm. The body or standard of the crutch is composed of four pieces, (designated by the letter 13,) which are arranged in pairs, so as to form trusses on opposite sides, as clearly shown in the drawings. These four pieces are brought together near the lower end of the crutch by means of a ring or ferrule, (shown at 0,) so as to form a clustered column in four sections or pieces, as shown at D. The length of the crutch may be proportioned to'suit any given case simply by cutting off the lower part of this clustered column or foot-piece and then placing upon the lower end a suitable shoe, S, of rubber, leather, metal, or any other suitable material. The grip or handle E spans the two sides of the standard in the usual manner, and consists of the wooden part or handle proper,E, which is bored through longitudinally for the insertion of the bolt or screw F. At opposite ends of the grip or handleE is arranged a metallic plate, G, preferably square or rectangular in shape, and having two grooves, one on'each side, adapted to fit the standards. Another pair of plates, I, of

corresponding shape, press against theexte rior part of the standards, the grooves J J of this last-named pair of plates fitting the standards. Ihe bolt F passes through both pairs of plates, as well as through the handle, and is provided with a head at one end, bearing against one of the exterior plates, I, and with a nut (which may be a thumb-nut, if desired) at its opposite threaded end, bearing against the exterior plate at the other end, as will appear more clearly by reference to the sectional view, Fig. 3.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by loosening this nut (designated by the letter K) the handle E may be moved upward or down, whereby the handle may be adjusted in a moment of time to fit the arm; and after the handle in this manner has been properly adjusted to its proper distance beneath the saddle it may belocked firmly in place simply by tightening the nut K, which draws the several parts of the handle firmly together, thereby binding the plates G I G I firmly against the standards, one pair of-standards being clamped firmly between each pair of grooved plates. Again, by constructing the body or standard of the crutch in four separate pieces, giving to the standard the trussed i'orm shown in the drawings, my improved crutch may be made 'very light and yet of great strength, the upper ends of the standards being inserted into the under side of the saddle in a line with one another, as shown in Fig. 2, by which construction that part of the crutch which comes immediately under the arm may be made quite thin, so as to be used with a minimum of discomfort.

. Havingthusdescribed my invention,lclaim JAMES F. PLUCHE.

NVitnesses:

F. A. HINDs, J OHN R. OLIN. 

